The once notorious Black Forest Drive through Woodend and Macedon is now much more comfortable for bike riders and far safer for all road users.
Once an undivided multi-lane highway with no provision for riders, the route has been transformed into a road with a single lane in each direction, a continuous bike lane both ways, and more appropriate speed zones.
Contractors have wrapped up activities including intersection upgrades at key locations, installing a painted centre median for vehicle turning lanes and pedestrian refuges, resealing the road surface, and new line-marking.
Other upgrades include the installation of audio-tactile line-marking on the centre and edge line marking, sealing the entrances to higher-risk side roads and installing new street lighting to the Calder Freeway overpass section where there is no room for the dedicated cycling lanes.
Black Forest Drive was once part of the highway to Bendigo, but once the Calder Freeway opened, traffic dropped dramatically, and tragically, the crash rate went up.
At the time VicRoads and the TAC started work to reduce the number of traffic lanes and introduce bicycle lanes on the road, but the move was stopped after community opposition.
However, the deaths didn’t stop and eventually the current government took the bit between its teeth and came up with funding for a major safety initiative – the results of which are now available for all to see.
Over the years Bicycle Network, supported by local riding groups and committed individuals, never relented in pushing the argument for a safe outcome for riders and other road users.
On opening the revamped road, Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Melissa Horne, said: "We know that Black Forest Drive caters to a wide range of different road users and these changes mean that all road users can now share the road more safely.”
The member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas, thanked the community for being involved in the process to improve the road.
“We want to thank the community for their input on these upgrades and for the patience shown while our crews delivered this important work to make this section of road safer.”
Or become our friend and subscribe to receive our fortnightly newsletter.